Skip to main content

Samsung returns to Windows Phone, launches the Ativ SE through Verizon

Samsung was rumored to be making its return to Windows Phone this month, following an early leaked image, and a possible specification, revealing the phone will match the most recent, and high-end, Nokia Lumia phones.

Updated on 04-04-2014 by Andy: Samsung and Verizon have announced the Ativ SE. All the official information has been added in below.

Recommended Videos

The Ativ SE represents the first Samsung device to make use of the new Windows Phone GDR3 hardware enhancements, meaning the phone can compete with the best Nokia currently has to offer. The phone has a 5-inch AMOLED touchscreen on the front, with a 1080p resolution, and inside the device is the trusty Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor along with 2GB of RAM.

Owners will get to fill 16GB of internal storage space, plus add in a MicroSD card up to 64GB in size. For taking pictures, you’ll find a 13-megapixel camera on the rear, and a 2-megapixel lens above the screen on the front. The Ativ SE is a Verizon exclusive, and will connect to its 4G LTE network, plus it’s listed as a “Global Ready” device to be used abroad too.

Other features include Bluetooth 3.0, a 2,600mAh battery for around 20 hours talktime, plus the ability to control your TV using an infrared sensor and Samsung’s WatchON app. The device runs Windows Phone 8, but not Windows Phone 8.1, which was revealed during Microsoft’s Build 2014 conference earlier this week. However, like all existing Windows Phone 8 hardware, the new version will be made available as an update.

The design is identical to the leaked images of the phone, complete with Verizon branding on the front, a Windows logo on the home key, and a brushed metal effect rear cover. Overall, the Ativ SE is reminiscent of the Galaxy S4. Verizon will be charging $600 for an Ativ SE without a contract, or if you sign-up for two years, it’ll cost you $200. There is also a limited time offer where if you buy one, you’ll get another phone for free, provided a second two-year contract is signed.

Verizon has the Ativ SE ready to pre-order now, and states it’ll ship by April 12. It sits alongside the Nokia Lumia Icon in Verizon’s range, a phone we called the best Windows Phone ever made, and gave it a great score in our review. Will Samsung’s return to Microsoft’s OS be equally as impressive? We’re looking forward to testing this one out.

Article originally published on 04-02-2014

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Apple iPhone SE (2022) vs. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
iPhone SE 2022 Being Used.

The iPhone SE (2022) is the third entry in Apple's affordable range of 'Special Edition' smartphones. Recycling the design of 2017's iPhone 8, it receives the powerful Apple A15 Bionic processor of the iPhone 13, while also introducing 5G connectivity, an enhanced camera, a bigger battery than previous iPhone SEs, and a very competitive $429 price.

But in a market saturated with affordable Android devices, it certainly isn't without its rivals. Perhaps the most notable of these is the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. Another sub-$500 phone, it boasts a delicious 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, a dependable 4,500mAh battery, a versatile camera, and the now-mandatory 5G support. It also offers very high value for the money, but as a one-year-old phone, is it better than the iPhone SE (2022)?

Read more
Your Phone in Windows 11 now shows recent apps
A laptop sits on a desk with a Windows 11 wallpaper.

Microsoft's latest feature aims to create better integration between Samsung and Windows devices by allowing users to access their recent Android apps through the System Tray on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

The feature displays a "Your Phone" icon in the System Tray on the Windows desktop, allowing users to see the last applications recently accessed through their phone. Selecting any of the recent icons will then project the application on the desktop while it is running natively on the smartphone. There is also an option for users to pull up all of their mobile applications to view on their Windows device.

Read more
How to use Link to Windows to connect your Samsung or Surface Duo phone to a PC
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Link to Windows Screen

Thanks to efforts from the biggest smartphone manufacturers in the world, the gap between smartphones and computers has grown ever smaller. These days, you can get a desktop-like experience by booting up your iPad or by plugging your Samsung or Huawei phone into a spare monitor. But efforts to bridge the gap between phones and computers haven't begun and ended with the desktop-like DeX mode, and if you own a compatible Samsung or Microsoft smartphone, you can use Link to Windows to connect your phone and your computer.

Read more